Phil Dirt - Reverb Central - PO Box 1609, Felton, CA 95018-1609 USA
Collection: Original Surfin' Hitsdotdotdotdot
artworkThis LP was widely distributed during the sixties, and reissued in the eighties on he original label. There are some great tracks here, though most were available on other sources.
Picks: Latin'ia, Blue Soul, Swingin' Piper Soul, Intoxica, Surfin' Tragedy, Soul Beat Pt. II, Exotic, Surf Bird, Pachuko Soul, Tor-Chula, Church Key, Let's Go Surfin'

Track by Track Review


Latin'ia dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Easily one of the most beautiful Latin surf instros ever recorded. Tommy Nunes' writing and guitar wizardry were unsurpassed. I'd sure like to hear what he's doing now. This song shimmers. It's been on my top ten surf instro list for 33 years.

Blue Soul dotdotdotdot
Surf Latin East LA Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)

Slow shimmery vibrato guitar in fake stereo. Based on "Am I Blue," it's very beat-club cool. Vincent Bumatay had this knack for writing semi-sad, quasi ominous sax numbers that didn't rely on volume to produce power. What a marvelous slice of Mexican soul.

Swingin' Piper Soul dotdotdotdot
Soul Jazz (Instrumental)

"Swingin' Piper Soul" is a catchy poppy jazzy number that the Rhythm Kings issued on the Original Surfin' Hits album. Live, it's much less fluffy, with a very cool flute lead and saucy sound.

Intoxica dotdotdotdot
Jazz Surf (Instrumental)

This is a surf instro standard reworked in a club jazz vein. "Intoxica" do it all softly with a unique approach. Unlike the Sundazed CD, his tracks here are in stereo.

Surfin' Tragedy dotdotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Another exceptionally grand surf instro. Most of Bob Vaught's work was gutty and raw. This is shiny, shimmery, and exquisite. It ranks pretty close to "Latin'ia" in beautiful surf history. Especially if you've heard Doug Hume's vocal version. A must have.

Soul Beat Pt. II dotdotdotdot
Jazz Surf (Instrumental)

This is a sultry jazzy number with a very soulful groove. It drips liquid love and emotional well-being. So cool is that the Ray Beats covered it in a merger with Intoxica on their It's Only A Movie album.

Exotic dotdotdotdotdot
Surf Latin East LA Pachuko Soul (Instrumental)

Among the best of the Pachuko Soul tracks in existence is this gem. Note how different it is from the guitar lead version by the Sentinals.

Surf Bird dot
Surf (Vocal)

Ah yes - scary as they come, the Breakers do a doo-wop Hollywood syrup surf song for the teeny boppers. Oh boy!

Pachuko Soul dotdotdotdotdot
East LA Latin Mariachi Pachuko Soul Surf (Instrumental)

The cool handclaps, the great mariachi-like horns, the shouts, and the "Watermelon Man" party ethos are infectious and crystal clear. Simply cool party fun. What a sensational groove!

Tor-Chula dotdotdotdot
Soul Surf (Instrumental)

A Latin Laguna Luau party number from the minds of San Luis Obispo or Pismo Beach... I forget. One of their more ethnic numbers, very Latino and very wonderful. This Latin soul jazzy number has been one of my faves for a millennium (almost). It has a really cool soulful feel and great damped barely reverbed guitar. A brilliant arrangement.

Church Key dotdotdotdot
Surf (Instrumental)

Dave produced a unique arrangement of a song that was recorded by a bazillion instro bands, making it his own. I like it better than the original Revels version because of Dave's great double picking throughout matched exactly by his marvelous drummer. One of the better covers of the Revel's classic, and certainly the most surfy under it's original name.

Let's Go Surfin' dotdotdot
Jazz Surf (Instrumental)

Another of Jim Waller's originals, this is a nice tune with a nonintrusive comfort about it.